Boss & Co, 73 St James’s Street, London
12 bore Bar Action, Sidelock Ejector
No 4217, No 1 of a Pair
Date of manufacture: 1892

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Heritage Guns' Comment


This superb gun was made shortly after John Robertson bought Boss & Company and developed it into probably the most exclusive London gunmaker of its time.
With its bar action locks, elegant sidelever and superb Sumner engraving, this gun represents the departure from Robertson’s predecessor, EF Paddison, very traditional preference for back actions and rotary underlevers. On taking over Boss & Co, Robertson changed the style of the guns to appeal to more modern tastes and this gun reflects many of the changes he introduced. 
 We have had the gun reproofed for 2 ¾” ammunition and following a sensitive restoration, we are pleased to be able to offer a beautifully balanced gun for game or clays.
Presented in a contemporary Oak & Leather case
with reproduction Maker’s label and some accessories.

WE REGRET THAT THIS GUN IS NOW SOLD. IF YOU ARE SEARCHING FOR A SIMILAR GUN, PLEASE CONTACT US.

 

The action is of normal baraction design and features:
Double triggers bolted by an automatic top tang safety slide;
9 pin bar action locks; Robertson style interceptor sears;
Side lever operating a 'Purdey Bolt';
Robertson's patent ejector and Anson forend catch.
There is a barely visible antique repair to the sidelever
and a small chip to the forend iron at the knuckle.
Gun weight 6lb 15oz 
Engraving style
Very Best Bouquet & Scroll engraving; Beaded fences;
Top rib and top of action with gold inlaid ‘1’, forend iron engraved ‘1’.
Gold inlaid ‘SAFE’. Action bar engraved ‘BOSS’S PATENT EJECTOR’.
Trigger pulls measure approximately: Front trigger 3lb Rear trigger 4lbs.
The sleeved damascus to steel barrels are 28" in length, chambered for 2 3/4" (70mm) cartridges and are of brazed 'dovetail' construction with soft soldered ribs.
There are a few small marks showing in the re-blacked finish at the sleeving joint .
Top rib is
of the smooth, concave game type.
Birmingham reproof for 70mm nitro powder cartridges in 2018.

Approximate barrel measurements at date of publication:

 
Nominal Proof Size
Bore Diameter 9"
from Breech
Minimum Wall Thickness
Choke Constriction

RH Barrel

18.5mm (0.728")
0.729"
0.030"
0.010” (IC)

LH Barrel

18.5mm (0.728")
0.731"
0.026"
0.020" (Mod)

Straight Hand Stock and Splinter Forend is crafted from highly figured walnut, thought to be original. The stock is lightly cast-off for a right-handed shot, features a vacant yellow metal oval and well defined drop points and is finished with a ¾” leather covered recoil pad. The forend wood has a barely visible inlet repair to its edge and features a finely engraved steel tip and diamond.

Highly Figured Walnut

The approx 22 lines per inch chequering has been refreshed to its original sidelock pattern.
The stock is finished with a traditional linseed oil based preparation as used on best guns by one of the top English makers. This finish uses no grain fillers to achieve its deep, smooth lustre, only many hours of alternate build and flatting off of the surface.

Approximate stock measurements at date of publication:

Pull to Heel
Pull to Bump
Pull to Centre
Pull to Toe
14 7/8"
15"
15 1/16"
15 1/2"
Drop at Comb
Drop at Face
Drop at Heel
1 1/2"
1 5/8"
2"
Cast-off at Comb
Cast-off at Heel
1/16" (approximate)
1/8" (approximate)

For the purposes of these measurements, 'Drop at Face' is the 'drop' measurement taken on a line perpendicular to the
line joining the trigger and centre of the butt at approximately 8" from the trigger (front trigger on a double trigger gun).

Patents Exhibited include:
 Holland & Robertson's ejector patent no. 16691 of 1888;
'Purdey Bolt' patent no. 1104 of 1863;
Anson's forend fastener patent no. 3791 of 1872.